DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 21-25)

Welcome to winter! Last year’s solstice sunrise was brilliant, whereas this one was obscured by low clouds and fog. in many areas the temperatures have been below freezing and some of that fog has contributed to icing on untreated surfaces so use caution if you are outside this morning. Some drying between an offshore storm system and an approaching trough from the west should result in partial clearing at times today and early this evening. This leaves us still with a chance to see the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter low in the southwest sky between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The system coming from the west may produce some snow showers on Tuesday and behind it comes a reinforcing shot of cold air as high pressure moves in on Wednesday. I believe we are still seeing model corrections on going for the situation on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. High pressure offshore will allow milder air to flow into the region on Christmas Eve. An approaching front from the west will bring rain showers to the region that night and into the early hours of Christmas Day before a rapid temperature drop which may end the rain as snow in some sections. Still have some fine tuning to do on this forecast for future updates.

TODAY: Clouds and areas of fog to start. Early rain Cape Cod. Clouds break for sun at times. Highs 35-42. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Clouds return west to east. Lows 23-30. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Snow showers likely, except rain or snow showers South Coast. Highs 34-41. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 31-38. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT (CHRISTMAS EVE): Cloudy. Rain showers likely. Temperatures rise to 48-55. Wind S 10-20 MPH, higher gusts.

FRIDAY (CHRISTMAS DAY): Cloudy start with rain showers possibly ending as snow showers, then a sun/cloud mix with a possible snow shower. Temperatures fall to the 20s. Wind W 15-25 MPH, higher gusts.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 26-30)

Fair, chilly weather expected for December 26-28 and then a risk of a wintry weather threat to end the period.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 31 – JANUARY 4)

Tranquil weather for the last day of 2020 before a quick-moving system brings some unsettled weather to greet 2021, followed by a shot of colder, dry weather.

C-19 Chat Post – December 21 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 20-24)

A weak area of low pressure passes through the region during today with lots of clouds and some rain and snow shower activity, rain showers favoring Cape Cod & coastal areas with snow showers favoring inland spots. Other than the risk of brief coatings of snow, this will have very little impact. Another low pressure area will develop on an offshore frontal boundary on Monday but should scoot just southeast and east of New England, a fairly close shave though, with some cloudiness and even a chance of a period of rain on Cape Cod. Meanwhile, another area of energy will be diving through the Great Lakes and while not able to catch up to the offshore storm in time to give it a shot of energy, it should bring some mix/snow shower activity to our area on Tuesday. I’m still hopeful that we’ll have just enough clear sky between these systems to be able to view the great conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn in the southwestern sky at dusk Monday. When we get to midweek, high pressure to the west brings fair and cold weather Wednesday, then slides offshore with moderation on Thursday, Christmas Eve. The next system to the west likely holds off so that dry weather will also be expected for Santa’s visit later Thursday night…

TODAY: Mostly cloudy. Showers of rain and snow around mainly afternoon. Highs 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Lows 21-28. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Early and late sun, a period of cloudiness between which may include brief rain on Cape Cod and Nantucket. Highs 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Clouds return west to east. Lows 23-30. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Snow showers likely, except rain or snow showers South Coast. Highs 34-41. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 31-38. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 18-25. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 38-45. Wind S 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 25-29)

A frontal boundary with a couple low pressure areas on it will bring unsettled weather to the region for Christmas Day, December 25, but the exact evolution and behavior of this system is somewhat in question. Current thinking is a brief shot of mild air and rather short-lived period of rain showers for the morning, followed by a sharp temperature drop with a shifting wind and a chance of snow showers. Fair, chilly weather expected for December 26-28 and then a risk of a wintry weather threat to end the period.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 30 – JANUARY 3)

Low confidence forecast but current idea is for fair and tranquil weather for the last couple days of 2020 before a quick-moving system brings some unsettled weather to greet 2021, followed by a shot of colder, dry weather.

C-19 Chat Post – December 20 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 19-23)

A true weather nut will be fascinated by the contrast across our area during the nighttime hours leading up to sunrise when I started writing this blog. While many areas were clear and calm with significant radiational cooling over a fresh snow cover, dropping temperatures into the teens and single digits, even to near zero in some locations, cloud cover (with a few snow flurries) and a breeze did their job holding temperatures up in the 20s to even around 30 along the South Shore of MA and especially Cape Cod, and even Cape Ann from Gloucester through Rockport, as the western edge of the northerly air flow behind our recent storm continued unimpeded by the low friction of the ocean water. As today goes on, our temperatures will find themselves much more uniform across the region by early afternoon in comparison to how they started out the day, but it will be a cold day, albeit with plenty of sunshine, which will start to fade later in the day as we get an increase in high and mid level cloudiness in advance of our next disturbance. Unfortunately this will interfere with the view of Jupiter & Saturn, which draw ever closer in the sky on the way to their Grand Conjunction in just 2 days. But the weather has the say, and these clouds are going to move in, and the disturbance causing them will bring slightly milder air but also the chance of some light rain & snow shower activity on Sunday. This will not be a big deal, with rain showers most likely in coastal areas and Cape Cod while interior sections see a better chance of snow showers, where a minor accumulation could result in few slick spots. This system moves out Sunday evening, but probably again not in time to see the planets, leaving us one more chance on the day-of Grand Conjunction, Monday, also the Winter Solstice. But will see see it even then? That’s a good question. I have been keeping an eye on the potential evolution of another storm to threaten us on Tuesday, although the leaning has been for this to stay mostly offshore. But the evolution of this system may be a little different than I’d envisioned earlier, with 2 piece of energy not getting close enough to join up and create a larger storm. If this is indeed to be the case, what we will see is the southern energy sliding offshore south and east of us Monday with some high cloudiness that could exit in time for evening twilight planet viewing, and cloudiness from the northern piece of energy, while approaching via the Great Lakes, still holding off far enough to the west so as not to bother the view. Hoping this is how it turns out! Regardless, that northern energy is expected to dive across the region Tuesday with cloudiness and some snow shower activity (perhaps rain showers Cape Cod with more marginal temperatures), but not a big storm. Behind that comes high pressure and dry weather for Wednesday.

TODAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Periods of light snow/mix/rain, frozen precipitation most likely Boston north and west, with rain more likely to the southeast. Highs 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Lows 21-28. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Early and late sun, a period of cloudiness between. Highs 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Clouds return. Lows 23-30. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Snow showers likely, except rain or snow showers South Coast. Highs 34-41. Wind NW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 15-22. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 31-38. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 24-28)

High pressure shifts offshore with dry but a little milder for December 24. Low pressure attempts a track northwest of New England for early December 25 but how much warm air gets into the region is questionable. While guidance will show a strong surge of southerly air, warmth, and a good slug of rain, I have my doubts this is exactly how it plays out. While we may eventually get into the “warm sector”, it will likely be difficult at first and also modified by snow cover, which will still very much be around in most of the region, and the rainfall along the frontal boundary that sweeps through from the west may be a much narrower area than depicted by models at this time. Cold air likely returns rather quickly by later December 25 hanging around for the remainder of this period as high pressure builds across the Great Lakes and into eastern Canada.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 29 – JANUARY 2)

High pressure eastern Canada, low pressure approaching from west may bring a wintry weather event to start this period followed by a brief shot of cold, then moderation with more tranquil weather as 2021 arrives. This is a low confidence forecast at this time.

C-19 Chat Post – December 19 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 18-22)

Even though our departed storm is heading into the Canadian Maritimes, it continues to have an impact on the region this morning in the form of extensive cloud cover, and even more of an impact from Plymouth County MA to Cape Cod where ocean-effect snow & freezing drizzle has been ongoing, keeping things on the treacherous side where they already saw a wetter snow with rain followed by a flash freeze with a fluffier snow yesterday. Regionwide, conditions will improve today as drier air moves in and clouds break apart and eventually clear from northwest to southeast. High pressure moves in tonight setting up a strong radiational cooling night over the fresh snow pack, and hangs around to give a nice day on Saturday. The next disturbance from the west arrives Saturday night with clouds and takes the day Sunday to pass through with some rain and snow shower activity, but this will be a minor system with minimal impact. A weak ridge of high pressure brings fair weather for Monday, but an upper trough quickly swinging through the region Monday night and Tuesday will ignite a storm offshore. At this time the guidance has this system just too far offshore to be of an impact, precipitation-wise, but we should watch it carefully, given recent guidance performance in advance of such events. Either way, this system will help drag in more Canadian cold later Tuesday.

TODAY: Cloudy start including periods of light snow and/or freezing drizzle from Plymouth County MA to Cape Cod, gradually ending by about midday. Clearing with sun returning from northwest to southeast midday/afternoon. Highs 26-33. Wind NE-N 5-15 MPH morning shifting to N-NW this afternoon.

TONIGHT: Clear. Lows 3-10 except 10-17 urban centers and coastal areas. Wind NW under 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Periods of light snow/mix/rain. Highs 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Lows 21-28. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Lows 23-30. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy start with a chance of snow/mix favoring Cape Cod, then cloud/sun mix with a risk of a passing snow shower. Highs 35-42 but temperatures likely falling in the afternoon. Wind N 10-20 MPH, gusty.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 23-27)

Dry, cold December 23 as high pressure moves in then crosses the area. December 24 & 25 bring the next chance for some unsettled weather with early indications for low pressure tracking northwest of the region bringing a warm front / cold front combo through with some mix/rain with the warm front, a surge of milder air, and then rain showers with the cold front, followed by a sharp temperature drop and perhaps some snow showers. Caveat: I don’t necessarily trust the guidance depiction of this event yet, so changes to this outlook are possible. Dry/seasonable later in the period.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 28 – JANUARY 1)

One or two precipitation events possible during this period, favoring December 28 & 30. Shot of cold air arrives early period then some moderation follows. Low confidence outlook with much re-analysis needed.

C-19 Chat Post – December 18 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 17-21)

The WHW forecast area continues to be impacted by a winter storm, dumping a good amount of snow on much of the region, with a bit less to the southeast due to wetter snow, and even less on parts of the outer part of Cape Cod and over the Islands due to a change to rain there . The mix/rain areas will see a flip back to snow before the end of the precipitation, and areas that had rain and wetter snow will experience a quick freeze-up when the cold air returns during the midday and afternoon hours today. There is also a drier slot with less or even no snow falling in the Merrimack Valley through parts of central MA. These areas will see additional snowfall though as a heavier band to the north and west rotates back through while weakening. Eventually all of the snow will move out from west to east, ending with accumulation with most areas somewhere in the expected ranges. Tonight comes clearing and mid winter cold, despite it still being autumn. Colder than normal but dry weather will dominate Friday and Saturday. Sunday will see slight temperature moderation but also some cloudiness and the possibility of snow and rain showers as a weak low passes by. Following this should be weak high pressure with a dry, seasonable Monday.

TODAY: Overcast with snow except mix/rain South Coast and Cape Cod for a while before changing to snow by midday from west to east. Total snow accumulation: 1-2 inches lower portion of outer Cape Cod (Chatham) as well as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, 2-4 inches upper portion of outer Cape Cod (Provincetown) as well as Mid Cape, 4-8 inches Cape Cod Canal area as well as South Shore up to about Plymouth and westward to the immediate coast of RI, and 8-14 inches elsewhere. Highs 25-32 north and west of Boston, 33-40 elsewhere with mildest Cape Cod and Islands in the morning, followed by falling temperatures midday and afternoon. Wind E to NE 15-25 MPH with gusts 35-45 MPH southeastern MA and southeastern RI, shifting to NW during the afternoon, and NE to NW 10-20 MPH with gusts 25-35 MPH elsewhere.

TONIGHT: Clearing. Blowing snow likely. Lows 10-18. Wind N to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts. Wind chill often below 10.

FRIDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 27-34. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 10-17. Wind NW under 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow/mix/rain Highs 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

SUNDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy early, then clearing. Lows 21-28. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

MONDAY: Partly cloudy. Highs 35-42. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 22-26)

Potential unsettled weather events December 22 and 24-25. Temperatures near to slightly above normal dropping to below normal at the end of the period.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 27-31)

One or two precipitation events possible during this period. Temperatures start cold then moderate.

C-19 Chat Post – December 17 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 16-20)

A nice cold and tranquil day that starts with sun & high clouds and will end with a slate grey overcast in advance of an approaching low pressure area that will bring us a mid December, or late autumn “winter storm”. Pretty certain now that low pressure will track just southeast of New England Thursday morning and midday, it’s weakening and elongating center passing south of Cape Cod and the Islands, with cold high pressure to the north in eastern Canada. This is a recipe for a decent winter weather event, although the low will actually be on a weakening trend instead of strengthening, like many do. Nevertheless, it will still have plenty of moisture with it and pack enough punch to deliver decent snow to most areas. Coastal flooding will not be a major factor with this event, with just some minor flooding around Thursday’s high tide, favoring east-facing and north-facing shores. Wind will be notable but not ferocious, as you’ll see in the detailed forecast below, but the wind direction will be key for snowfall, which leads me to the most difficult aspects of this forecast – the position and movement of a coastal front and the amount of mixing with and changing to rain takes place. Right now, the best bet is that mixing is a safe bet for the South Coast of RI/MA and up along the South Shore of MA to perhaps the Plymouth area during Thursday morning, and a quicker change to rain is pretty likely for a good portion of Cape Cod and the Islands. The determining factor in how much snow ends up falling in these mix/change areas will be how quickly that coastal frontal boundary moves back to the east as the storm goes by, returning cold air to these locations. These areas along and east of that frontal boundary that see a wetter snow and/or rain will also have a high risk of a flash freeze when that cold air returns. Further northwest, it’s a pretty straightforward situation: lower water content fluffy snow, with the only real complicating factor being potential drying patches or bands where intensity may get much lighter keeping some areas near the low end of the forecast range, or even them under-achieving expectation, so we will have to keep an eye out for that. Snowfall amounts will appear in the detailed forecast following this.. After this system departs, it’s dry and cold for Friday and Saturday with temperatures running below average for mid December. A bit of a moderation follows on Sunday but that’s also when we will be dealing with our next unsettled weather – a weaker system coming in from the west, with some light precipitation, favoring snow but with some mix possible as well.

TODAY: Sun followed by increasing clouds. Highs 27-34 Wind N up to 10 MPH.

TONIGHT: Thickening overcast. Snow arriving late evening and overnight, mixing with or changing to rain Cape Cod & Islands. Lows 18-25 except 25-32 South Coast. Wind N to NE 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY: Overcast with snow except mix/rain South Coast and Cape Cod for a while before changing to snow during the afternoon west to east. Expected snow accumulation: 1-2 inches lower portion of outer Cape Cod (Chatham) as well as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, 2-4 inches upper portion of outer Cape Cod (Provincetown) as well as Mid Cape, 4-8 inches Cape Cod Canal area as well as South Shore up to about Plymouth and westward to the immediate coast of RI, and 8-14 inches elsewhere. Highs 20-27 except 28-35 South Coast and 36-43 outer Cape Cod and Islands. Wind E to NE 15-25 MPH with gusts 35-45 MPH southeastern MA and southeastern RI, shifting to NW during the afternoon, and NE to NW 10-20 MPH with gusts 25-35 MPH elsewhere.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Blowing snow likely. Lows 10-18. Wind N to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts. Wind chill often below 10.

FRIDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 27-34. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 10-17. Wind NW under 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT: Variably cloudy. Lows 20-27. Wind SW up to 10 MPH.

SUNDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of light snow/mix. Highs 33-40. Wind variable 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 21-25)

Potential unsettled weather events December 22 and 24-25. Temperatures variable, averaging near normal. Will re-evaluate these events next update.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 26-30)

One or two precipitation events possible during this period. Temperatures variable, averaging close to normal.

C-19 Chat Post – December 16 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 15-19)

High pressure centered over the Great Lakes delivers a nice shot of cold air today and sets us up for our next storm threat which will bring widespread snow to the region late Wednesday night through most of Thursday. This will evolve as low pressure travels from Texas through the lower Mississippi Valley toward the Tennessee Valley, redeveloping off the Mid Atlantic Coast, then moves just south of New England while heading northeastward on Thursday. With a very cold air mass in place, most of the area will see a low water content, fluff-factor snowfall, the exception being Cape Cod and the Islands where it will be a little milder on the other side of a coastal front that forms and the snow will be a little more sticky there. Minor to moderate coastal flooding is likely near the times of high tide, especially on east-facing and north-facing shores. This system exits Thursday night and high pressure builds back in with dry and cold weather for the end of the week.

TODAY: Sunny. Highs 29-36. Wind NW 10-15 MPH, gusts 20-25 MPH.

TONIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 17-24. Wind N under 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Sun followed by increasing clouds. Highs 27-34 Wind N up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Thickening overcast. Snow arriving late evening and overnight. Lows 18-25. Wind N to NE 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY: Overcast with snow likely, ending west to east late in the day. Snow accumulation 3-6 inches southern NH with a few amounts above 6 inches possible near the NH Seacoast, 6-12 inches elsewhere with a few amounts above 12 inches possible south and southwest of Boston. Highs 18-25 except 25-32 Cape Cod. Wind NE to N 10-20 MPH with gusts up to 30 MPH interior areas, 15-25 MPH with gusts over 40 MPH over southeastern MA especially Cape Cod.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Blowing snow likely. Lows 10-18. Wind N to NW 10-20 MPH, higher gusts. Wind chill often below 10.

FRIDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 27-34. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Clear. Lows 10-17. Wind NW under 10 MPH.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 30-37. Wind W 5-15 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 20-24)

Potential unsettled weather events December 20, 22, and 24. Temperatures variable, averaging near normal. Will re-evaluate this for the next update.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 25-29)

One or two precipitation events possible during this period. Temperatures variable, averaging close to normal.

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C-19 Chat Post – December 15 2020

DAYS 1-5 (DECEMBER 14-18)

Firstly, I don’t want to neglect to mention that today is a new moon, and the tides are astronomically high, and some minor coastal flooding is likely to occur near high tide times especially along east and north facing shores… For some time we’ve been anticipating a middle of December stretch of active weather that features some wintry weather opportunities, and 2 such opportunities are now pretty certain, one today and another at midweek. First today’s, which will be a minor event as a wave of low pressure approaches from the southwest and passes just south of New England by this evening. This will be occurring as cold air filters into the region, so with temperatures marginal for rain vs. snow, and on the milder side of the line in many areas, this event will likely start as rain or a mix of rain and snow for many areas later this morning. During the afternoon is when colder air will filter in from the north and some will be brought down from above adequately enough to flip the precipitation over to mostly snowfall, which will then exit from west to east by early evening as this progressive system exits the region. It will leave behind a minor snow accumulation, favoring areas near and south of I-90, but a burst of moderate snow can leave untreated roads slick for a while, and as temperatures fall tonight behind the system, any untreated wet surfaces will become icy. That cold air will be delivered with a little more force on Tuesday as what was our minor low pressure wave intensifies into quite the storm as it passes through the Canadian Maritime Provinces and creates a healthy northerly air flow out of eastern Canada between itself and high pressure north of the Great Lakes. While Tuesday will be a day with plenty of low angle December sun, it will be a cold one, and helps to set the stage for our next storm system. This low pressure area starts out as a rather innocuous looking system in Texas Tuesday, but travels steadily eastward through the lower Mississippi Valley, picking up moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, then heading northeastward toward the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. A warm front extending eastward from this initial low will be the focal point for the development of a new low pressure area near the Carolina Coastline through Wednesday, which will then travel northeastward, passing southeast of New England Thursday. All the while, high pressure will sit over eastern Canada, supplying plenty of cold air. At this point, there are still some notable model guidance differences in how much snow will fall, but they are in general agreement that the odds favor the heaviest snowfall being in the southern half of Massachusetts southward. With the amount of cold air expected to be around and the track of low pressure offshore, this should be a straight snow event for pretty much the entire region, with the only possibility of mixing being on the outer part of Cape Cod and Nantucket, just due to the ocean water temperature still on the mild side. Going to hold off on putting snowfall numbers on this system until tomorrow morning’s update, but just know that an event requiring at least some snow removal is rather likely. As it departs and the sky clears Thursday night, we’re set up for a very cold night and a cold/dry Friday.

TODAY: Cloudy. Rain/mix arriving west to east by late morning and midday, transitioning to mix/snow through mid afternoon before ending by evening. Snow accumulation of a coating to 1 inch especially near and south of I-90, with an isolated 2 inch amount possible. Highs 33-40. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

TONIGHT: Clearing. Lows 21-28. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.

TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 31-38. Wind NW 10-15 MPH, gusts 20-25 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows 17-24. Wind N under 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY: Sun followed by increasing clouds. Highs 28-35 Wind N up to 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Thickening overcast. Snow arriving late evening and overnight. Lows 18-25. Wind N to NE 5-15 MPH.

THURSDAY: Overcast with snow (possible mix outer Cape Cod & Nantucket), ending late. Significant snow accumulation possible in southern NH and northern MA and probable southern MA southward. Highs 23-30. Wind NE to N 10-20 MPH, higher gusts possible.

THURSDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Blowing snow possible. Lows 10-18. Wind N to NW 10-20 MPH. Wind chill below 10.

FRIDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 27-34. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.

DAYS 6-10 (DECEMBER 19-23)

Dry, cold weather expected behind storm with Canadian high pressure December 19. Next unsettled weather threat comes later on December 20 with rain/mix/snow possible, followed by a return to dry weather December 21 with a shot of seasonably chilly air. Have to watch for a minor system with snow/mix possible toward the end of this period.

DAYS 11-15 (DECEMBER 24-28)

Active pattern may continue with at least one and possible two precipitation threats to be fine-tuned as we get closer. Variable temperatures, averaging close to normal overall.